Liquid-soap dispenser



June 8 1926.

H. E. HEINE LIQUID SOAP DISPENSER Filed July 14. 1923 w 4 l in n INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 8, 1925.

HERMAII s. nnrun, or ia nwanitnn, iscons n, rissieu'on TO snapper wasn- "FOUNTAIN Col, on ivrrnw'nurinn,Wisconsin, a oonronarioit or isconsin.

LIQUID-$UAP DISFEEIRWSE'R.

Application filed July is, 1923. Serial No. (551,53...

The main objects of the invention are to supply small 'n'edetermiued quantities of liquid soap particularly to users of lavatories; to avoid waste of soap and unsanitary conditions; and generally to simplify and improve the construction and operation of devices of this class.

lit consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of'parts as herein after particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In theaccompanying drawing like characters designate the same parts in. both figures.

Figure 1 is a n'iedial vertical section on the line 1- 1 Fig. 2, or? a device embodying the invention as conn cited with a liquid soap receptacle; and Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross section on the line 22, Fig; 1.

The device, which is designed to he attached to a liquid soap receptacle for use in connection with lHVzttOllhS, particularly such lavatories as are used in public places and are intended for the simultaneous ac commodation of a number of persons, comprises a main body or case 1, which with slip t modification may be installed either in a vertical or a horizontal position, is formed with 'a receiving chamber 2 and an inlet passage 3. As shown, the case or body 1 is designed to be connected in a vertical position with a liquid soap receptacle 5, to which a number of like dispensing devices may be attached for use by a number of persons at the same time.

The case or body is termed at its end with a laterally projecting branch 6,

in which the inlet passage 3 is formed, and

which has an enlarged internally threaded socket at its outer end for screwing it upon the outwardly projecting threaded end of an elbow-shaped nipple 7. which is connected at its inner upper end with the bee tom of the soap receptacle 5.

ihe inlet; passage 8 isenlarged at its inner end which communicates with the lower end-of the chamber 2 and forms a valve chamber 9 of smaller diameter than said chamber 2. An inwardly opening ball check valve 10 is loosely confined in the chamber 9 by a perforated cover plate 11 and is provided in the lower part of said chamber i *ith a conical seat 12 againstwhich it closes, toprevent backward'flow of soap from the chamber 2 throughthe passage 3.

lower it shouldered cap li, removably threaded in the upper end of the case 1, is formed ith a discharge chamber 15, coan'ialwith and ot smaller diameter than the receiving chamber 2',i.nto the upper end of which it opens. Around the opening at the lower end of the chamber 15, the cap is formed with an annular valve seat 15, andabove said chamber itis provic ed with a laterally projecting delivery spout 20, which com municates at its inner end with the upper end of the chamber 15.

A plunger 22, freely fitting in the chamber is recessed on its upper side and'provided with a valve disk 23, of suitable elastic pliant or soft material such as leather or "ulcanized fiber, adapted to form a tight jointwith the seat 16, against which it closes. The plunger is provided with an ope stem 25, extending upwardly therciroiu through the chamber '15, stulhng' be i? and gland 18, in which it guided, and provided at its upper end with a knob or handle 26, which may be adjustably threaded thereon, as shown in Fig; 1, and secured in adjusted position by a lock nut 27. The lower end 29015 the stem 27' is reduced and threaded in the plunger 22, and passing through the valve disk 28, clamps it tightly in place in the recess in the plunger in wl Ich it is fitted. The plungor is secured in place on the reduced threaded end. 29 of the stemby a lock nut 30.

A restricted bypass is provided to permit the liquid soap to flow from one side of the plunger 22 to the other sidethereof. This hy-p'ass maybe provided by a loose ot the plunger in the chamber 2, or as showin by forming one or more openings through the plunger, such as'notches 82 in c 1. its periphery.

'lhe plunger 1s thrust upward and the valve (.llSi 1S held normally against its flows by tl'llGdQ'll the nipple 7 and passaae 3 past the check valve 10, into, and

fills the chamber-2 the exit from chainher being closed by the valve disk "The pressure on o iiposit-e sides of the ball valve o is then equal, so that the valve is permitted to drop by its own weight to the bottom of chamber 9 and rest upon seat 12.

Downward movement of plunger 22 causes displacement of a certain amount of the liquid soap trapped in chamber 2 below the plunger, this amount being forced through by-passcs 32 to that portion of the chamber above the plunger. There is a ditierence between the capacity of chamber 2 above plunger 22 and the amount of soap displaced from the chamber below the plunger, this capacity being the lesser of the two because of the displacement of stem An amount of liquid soap equal to this diti'erencc is accordingly expelled through spout 20. The soap filling the passage in the spout 20, is held in suspension and pre vented from dripping therefrom by siphonicaction, the chamber forming the longer leg of a siphon, the shorter leg of which is formed by the downwardly curved outer end of the spout.

The upward or return movement of stem 25, under the action of spring 34, might or might not cause a certain amount of liquid soap to be expelled through spout 20, depending upon the combined areas of bypasses 32. It this area is comparatively small, there will be a difference between the amount of liquid soap displaced from that portion of chamber 2 above the plunger and the amount permitted to return througa the by-passes to that portion 01 the chamber below the plunger, the latter amount being the lesser of the two. It is this diti'erence that is expelled through spout upon the upward or return movement of stem 25. In this case plunger 22 is doubleacting. Upward movement of plunger 22 also decreases the pressure on the upper side of valve 10 so that the same is lifted from its seat and liquid soap permitted to flow past the valve and fill chamber 2. It, however, he combined areas of by-passes 32 is comparatively large, there will not be suiiicient resis ance to the passage of the soap through the by-passes to prevent the flow therethrough, to that portion of chamber 2 below plunger 22, of an amount at least equal to the amount displaced by the plunger from that portion of the chamber above the plunger. No soap will therefore be forced through spout 20 during the upward movement of the stem. At this time, however, the ditiierence in displacement of plunger and stem 25 will cause a decrease in pres sure on theupper side of valve 10, so that the same is lifted from its seat. Soap from receptacle 5 will then flow past the valve until chamber 2 is filled, at which time the pressure on opposite sides of the valve will be the same, permititng the valve to drop by its own weight and rest upon seat 12, as X- plained above.

After the chamber 2 has been once filled,

the chamber 15 will be filled, and will remain filled with soap after each operation of the plunger 22, so that a predetermined quantity of soap will be delivered from the spout 20 with each complete reciprocation ot' the plunger, until the receptacle 5 is emptied.

The quantity of soap discharged vfrom the spout 20 by the movement of the plunger 22 may be varied by the adjustment ot the lock nut 27 and knob 26 on the stem 25, the nut 27 by engagement with the gland 18, acting as a stop to limit the downward movement of the plunger and thus determine the GX- tent of its upward movement by the spring 34, and the quantity of soap forced thereby through the chamber 15 and spout 20.

he ball valve 10 is made of such size and weight that it will not be opened by the weight of the column of soap in the receptacle 5 and its connections with the dispenser when the plunger 22 is held in a depressed position. Continuous discharge of soap through spout 20 by holding stem 25 in its depressed position is thereby prevented. Although the weight of ball valve 10 is such that it will normally remain on its seat 12 and prevent flow of the liquid soap from receptacle 12 into chamber 2, the weight of the valve is such that when plunger 22 is raised under the action of spring 34, the suction in chamber 2 will be sufficient to unbalance valve 10 so that the latter is lifted from its seat by the pressure of the liquid soap which then fills chamber 2, at which time the pressure on opposite sides of the valve will be equal to permit the latter to drop by its own weight upon seat 12.

Various modifications in the minor details of construction and arrangement of parts of the device may be made without departure from the principle and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a liquid soap dispenser the combination of a case having a receiving chamber and an inlet passage opening into said chamher, a cap removably attached to the case and having a discharge chamber opening into the receiving chamber, a delivery spout connected with the discharge chamber, a plunger fitted in the receiving chamber and-provided with a valve for closing the opening between said chambers, and operating stem attached to the plunger and extending through the discharge chamber, said plunger being pro vided with a passage connecting the parts of the receiving chamber on opposite sides of the plunger, a spring holding the valve normally against its seat, and an inwardly opening check valve in the inlet passage.

2. In a liquid soap dispenser the combination of a case formed with a receiving chamber and an inlet passage opening into it, a cap removably attached to the case and having at its outer end a stuffing box and at its inner end a discharge chamber opening into the receiving chamber, a plunger fitted in the receiving chamber and provided with a by-pass opening into said chamber on opposite sides of the plunger and with a valve for closing the opening from the receiving chamber into the. discharge chamber, an operating stem attached to the plunger and passing through the discharge chamber and stufiing box, a delivery spout attached to the cap in communication with the discharge chamber, a spring tending to shift the plunger towards the discharge chamber and to hold said valve closed, and an inwardly opening check valve in the inlet passage.

3. In a liquid soap dispenser the combination of a case formed with a receiving chamher and an inlet passage opening into the lower part of said chamber and enlarged adjacent thereto into a valve chamber, a ball check valve loosely fitted in said valve chamber and normally closing the inlet passage, a perforated cover plate seated in the receiving chamber over the valve chamber and confining the ball valve therein, a cap removably attached to the case and formed with a discharge chamber opening into the end of the receiving chamber opposite the valve chamber and provided with a delivery spout, a plunger fitted in the receiving chamber and provided with a by-pass and with a valve for closing the opening from the receiving chamber into the discharge chamher, an operating stem passing through the cap and attached to the plunger, and a spring tending to shift the plunger towards the discharge chamber and normally holding the plunger valve closed.

a. In a liquid soap dispenser the combination of a case formed with a receiving chamher and an inlet passage opening into one end of said chamber and provided with an inwardly opening check valve, a cap attached to said case and formed with a dis charge chamber opening at one end into the other end of the receiving chamber and provided at the opposite end with a delivery spout, a plunger fitted to work in the receiving chamber and provided with a valve adapted to close the opening from the receiving chamber into the discharge chamber and with an operating stem passing through the discharge chamber, a restricted bypass connecting the parts of the receiving chamber on opposite sides of the plunger, and a spring tending to shift the plunger towards the discharge chamber and to hold the plunger valve closed.

5. In a liquid soap dispenser the combination with a case formed with a receiving chamber and an inlet passage opening into said chamber and provided with an inwardly opening check valve, a cap removably attached to the case and formed with a dis charge chamber opening at one end into and of smaller diameter than the receiving chamher and with a valve seat around the opening into the discharge chamber, a plunger fitted in the receiving chamber, a valve disk mounted on the side of the plunger towards the discharge chamber, a. restricted by-pass between the parts of the receiving chamber on opposite sides of the plunger, an operating stem passing through the discharge chamber in the cap and having a reduced end threaded in the plunger and clamping the Valve disk thereto, and a spring interposed between the plunger and the opposite end of the receiving chamber and normally holding the valve disk against said seat.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing having a chamber and inlet and outlet passages therefor, and a check valve arranged at said inlet passage, of a plunger slidably fitted in said chamberand adapted to close said outlet passage and to provide a passage between opposite sides of said plunger when the latter is in position to close said outlet passage.

7. In a liquid soap dispenser the combination of a case formed with areceiving chamber and an inlet passage opening into one end of said chamber, a cap attached to the case and formed with a discharge chamber opening at one end into the other end of the receiving chamber and provided at the opposite end with a delivery opening, a plunger fitted to work in the receiving chamber and provided with a valve for closing the opening from the receiving chamber into the discharge chamber, an operating stem extending from the plunger through the discharge chamber, a restricted by-pass connecting the parts of the receiving chamber on opposite sides of the plunger, and a ball check valve seated by gravity in the inlet chamber and of such size and weight as not to be opened by the pressure of the liquid soap against it when the plunger valve is held open.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing having a chamher and inlet and outlet passages therefor, and a check valve arranged at said inlet passage, of a plunger slidably fitted in said chamber and adapted to close said outlet passage, said plunger being provided with a bypass at the periphery thereof whereby the portions of said chamber on opposite sides of said plunger are connected when the latter is in position to close said outlet passage.

In witness whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

HERMAN E. HEINE. 

